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I slept like the dead—just as I always did—safe in the knowledge that Max would awaken at the slightest disturbance. He'd saved my bacon any number of times in the past. There was nothing but the steady drumbeat of the falling rain on the aluminum roof all night.
The rain continued into the following morning, even after Lucy woke me at 8:30. "Take a shower if you wish, Matt. There's no hurry. I don't have to go in until 11:30. Okay if I put Max out?"
"Sure…Max, go with Lucy. She'll put you out." Max rose and stretched before loping down the hall with Lucy. I walked toward the bathroom then turned around to take a clean pair of boxers and a clean tee from my bag. I also carried my Colt into the bathroom, leaving it on the vanity while I turned on the hot water.
I'd learned how to wash myself quickly while in the Navy so I was drying myself with a fluffy towel when Lucy knocked on the door. "I have coffee in the kitchen when you're done and I'm afraid I have bad news. I'm watching the Weather Channel and all the roads are flooded out. Looks like you'll be my guest a while longer."
"I really don't want to impose on your hospitality."
"You're not. I'm glad to have the company. I'm pretty lonely here."
"I find that hard to believe. You're an attractive woman with an upbeat personality. Surely, you must go on dates."
"Keep in mind that I know almost everyone here—if not from the diner then from church or from the city government. I'm on the City Council. Unfortunately, all the guys want from me is my pussy. There doesn't seem to be anyone who wants a serious relationship with me."
"I find you an interesting, even intriguing, woman. I'm surprised you're not married."
"Intriguing? How?"
"You're obviously a successful businesswoman who could act superior and aloof. Instead, you're friendly and open—the kind of person who offers a total stranger a place to stay. People like you don't come around every day. That's the truth." I smiled as she blushed from my compliment. Lucy looked into my eyes then smiled. "How about some breakfast? I can offer you bacon and eggs—any style."
"Okay, but only if I can help you in some way."
"You can set the table and get out the orange juice. I'll handle the rest. I was one of the cooks when my dad ran the diner. You know what? I'm in the mood for an omelet. It's just as easy to make two as one." I smiled and nodded my agreement as we walked together into the kitchen. Max ignored us as he lay quietly on the living room floor.
I had to admit that the breakfast was one of the best I'd ever had. Not only was the food great, but the company was just as good. Lucy asked about the case I had just closed and was especially interested in how we had tracked down the two suspects. We cleaned up together then worked again to make the bed. I was dressed in another uniform tee and cargo pants when she asked what I would do today.
"I don't really know, but I was thinking I might drive around town a bit."
"That won't take too long. Why don't you come up to the diner? I'll reserve a booth next to the door and we can talk or watch the TV news and weather. I'll even buy you lunch."
"I'll gladly come, but I insist on paying my way. What will I do with Max? I can't leave him in the SUV all day."
"Bring him in with you. Is he okay with kids?"
"Oh, yeah; he loves kids. I sometimes think he'd play Frisbee all day if I'd let him. He loves going to my cousin's house and playing with her girls." We talked together for a while then Lucy went into the bedroom to dress in her diner uniform. There was a slight break in the rain when we left and Lucy was right—her home did look better in the daylight.
I paid close attention to the directions she gave me and five minutes later I pulled into the diner's lot. She pointed me toward the town's main drag and waved as she entered the doorway. No sooner was she inside than the heavens opened again.
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The town was pretty much deserted even though it was a Saturday, a day I assumed most people would be shopping. There were plenty of small shops of all kinds. The city was clean and I could see that an effort had been made to revitalize the area with large concrete boxes planted with colorful flowers and hanging baskets on the lampposts. The buildings were well maintained with gleaming paint even on a day that was gloomy at best.
There were three schools at the end of the broad avenue—elementary, middle, and high. The football field looked like it could hold 5, 000 people easily. This was clearly rural America at its best. I didn't see even a single homeless person although they could be sheltering in a church or senior center or someplace I didn't even know existed. All in all I was quite impressed by the city even though it looked more like a big town than an actual city. The entire commercial area wasn't more than a half mile long by about three blocks on either side of the main road. I turned around, returning to the diner around 1:00. That was the routine I followed for three days, exploring different areas of the small city every day. In the end I had to agree with Lucy—it was a great place to live.
I had moved my rifle and shotgun back into the SUV as I did every morning and I had my marshal's belt with pistol and baton under my rain parka as Max and I ran into the diner. As promised, there was a booth just to the right of the door with a sign that said "Reserved." I sat with my back to the door and pointed Max to the opposing seat.
We weren't there long the first day when a waitress approached to tell me that I couldn't bring my dog into the building. "Actually, Lucy told me I could. Maybe you should check with her. How about a menu while you're doing that?" She brought it a minute later and by then two young girls had approached us. That also became a regular part of our day.
"Could we pet your dog, Mister?"
"Sure, just hold your hand out first and let Max sniff you. It'll be okay. He loves children and he plays with my cousin's girls all the time."
The older girl looked to be about ten and she obviously had some experience with strange dogs. Max sniffed her hand and then licked it a few times while she laughed. I had to tell Max to sit down because his tail had hit the people in the next booth several times. I tried to apologize, but they just brushed it off.
I was leaning over the table and as I did my jacket opened briefly. The girl gasped as she saw my revolver. "Is that a real gun, Mister? How come you have a gun?"
I waved her closer and opened the parka so she could read my shirt. "Oh, are you some kind of policeman?"
"Yes, I am honey, except I work for the federal government solving crimes that violate federal laws like kidnapping or drugs. Max is my partner. He's a police dog when we're working, but he's just a big baby the rest of the time."